Recycling incentive for Australia's 'most rubbishy state'

Kim Stephens

A South Australian-style refund scheme for bottles and cans could be on its way to Queensland.

The recycling incentive scheme has long divided opinion among the state's 77 councils and continued to do so in debate over a proposed introduction moved by Cook Shire Council at the Local Government Association of Queensland meeting in Mackay on Wednesday.

Those empty beer bottles could become extra pocket money for community groups. Photo: Marina Oliphant

Cr Scott's Far North Queensland municipality took out the title of the state's tidiest town on the first day of the LGAQ conference, a title he said reflected the council's attitude to litter collection and one that fuelled the motion.

Opposition was voiced by representatives of Brisbane, Rockhampton, Mackay, Scenic Rim and Redlands councils, largely with the theme that recycling schemes had moved well beyond a simple refund process.

Brisbane City Council delegate councillor Peter Matic described an incentive scheme as "retrograde".

"I appreciate the intent of the motion but from a practical perspective, it's not just about big councils like ours, we have contracts in place and systems in place and education in place," he said.

"It's a retrograde step, it ignores where we are moving forward and it's an archaic system that doesn't fit into Queensland to bring something like this in."

But Richmond Shire Council's John Wharton said many small councils had no such systems in place, nor the funds to implement them.

"Big councils can afford to recycle but a lot of smaller shires can't afford to," he said.

"When you do go to the Northern Territory remote areas, they do all their own cleaning up. It's about time we started looking a bit forward to the future.

"If we don't address this issue shortly it's going to become too big and too bad."

There was much conjecture on both sides as to whether such a scheme would save or cost councils money.

"I understand the emotional commitment but the facts are clear - it will in fact increase the cost of waste disposal to local government," Central Highlands delegate councillor Paul Bell said.

"It is clear in terms of studies done, of the seven options available, this is one of the most expensive overall to the community.

"It's really important we keep on this system...(that we make it) as efficient as we can make it.

"It's about sticking with a system that will keep our costs down."

Cook Shire Council's Andrew Wilson said such schemes operate successfully by Northern Territory and South Australian governments, as well as in various overseas countries.

He said implementing it in Queensland would help instil the importance of recycling and litter collection in children.

"We are not going backwards, we are going forwards," he said

"Give the children and charitable institutions a chance to clean up the state."

The motion was carried 107 votes to 90, prompting loud applause from the victorious delegates.

The three day LGAQ annual conference concluded in Mackay on Wednesday.